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PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS FROM POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. READ AND UNDERSTAND
BOTH THE SPECIFIC INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE OPERATING MANUAL FOR THE WELDER AND/OR OTHER
EQUIPMENT TO BE USED AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING GENERAL INFORMATION.
ARC WELDING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
ELECTRIC SHOCK can kill
1. a. The electrode and work (or ground) circuits are
electrically "hot" when the welder is on. Do not touch
these "hot" parts with your bare skin or wet clothing.
Wear dry, hole-free gloves to insulate hands.
b. In semi-automatic and automatic wire welding, the
electrode, electrode reel, welding head and nozzle or
semi-automatic welding gun are also electrically
"hot".
c. Insulate yourself from work and ground using dry
insulation. When welding in damp locations, on metal
framework such as floors, gratings or scaffolds, and
when in positions such as sitting or Iying, make
certain the insulation is large enough to cover your
full area of physical contact with work and ground.
d. Always be sure the work cable makes a good
electrical connection with the metal being welded.
The connection should be as close as possible to the
area being welded.
e. Ground the work or metal to be welded to a good
electrical (earth) ground.
f. Maintain the electrode holder, work clamp, welding
cable and welding machine in good, safe operating
condition. Replace damaged insulation.
g. Never dip the electrode holder in water for cooling.
h. Never simultaneously touch electrically "hot" parts of
electrode holders connected to two welders because
voltage between the two can be the total of the open
circuit voltage of both welders.
i. When working above floor level, protect yourself from
a fall should you get a shock.
j. Also see items 4c and 6.
FUMES AND GASES
can be dangerous
2. a. Welding may produce fumes and gases hazardous to
health. Avoid breathing these fumes and gases.
When welding, keep your head out of the fume. Use
enough ventilation and/or exhaust at the arc to keep
fumes and gases away from the breathing zone.
When welding on galvanized, lead or cadmium
plated steel and other metals which produce toxic
fumes, even greater care must be taken.
b. Do
not
weld
in
hydrocarbon vapours coming from degreasing,
cleaning or spraying operations. The heat and rays of
the arc can react with solvent vapours to form
phosgene, a highly toxic gas, and other irritating
products.
c. Shielding gases used for arc welding can displace air
and cause injury or death. Always use enough
ventilation, especially in confined areas, to ensure
breathing air is safe.
d. Read and understand the manufacturer's instructions
for this equipment and the consumables to be used,
including the material safety data sheet (MSDS) and
follow your employer's safety practices.
e. Also see Item 7b.
Page 2
locations
near
chlorinated
Shield-Arc SAM-400
ARC RAYS can burn
3. a. Use a shield with the proper filter and cover plates to
protect your eyes from sparks and the rays of the arc
when welding or observing open arc welding.
Headshield and filter lens should conform to AS
1674.2-1990 standards.
b. Use suitable clothing made from durable flame
resistant material to protect your skin and that of your
helpers from the arc rays.
c. Protect other nearby personnel with suitable non
flammable screening and/or warn them not to watch
the arc or expose themselves to the arc rays or to hot
spatter or metal.
WELDING SPARKS can
cause fire or explosion
4. a. Remove fire hazards from the welding area. If this is
not possible, cover them to prevent the welding
sparks from starting a fire. Remember that welding
sparks and hot materials from welding can easily go
through small cracks and openings to adjacent
areas. Have a fire extinguisher readily available.
b. Where compressed gases are to be used at the job
site, special precautions should be used to prevent
hazardous situations. Refer to AS1674 Parts 1 & 2
"Safety in Welding and Allied Processes", WTIA
Technical Note 7 "Health and Safety in Welding" and
the operating information for the equipment being
used.
c. When not welding, make certain no part of the
electrode circuit is touching the work or ground.
Accidental contact can cause overheating and create
a fire hazard.
d. Do not heat, cut or weld tanks, drums or containers
until the proper steps have been taken to insure that
such procedures will not cause flammable or toxic
vapours from substances inside. These can cause an
explosion even though the vessel has been
"cleaned". For information purchase AS 1674-1990.
e. Vent hollow castings or containers before heating,
cutting or welding. They may explode.
f. Sparks and spatter are thrown from the welding arc.
Wear oil free protective garments such as leather
gloves, heavy shirt, cuffless trousers, high shoes and
a cap over your hair. Wear ear plugs when welding
out of position or in confined places. Always wear
safety glasses with side shields when in a welding
area.
g. Connect the work cable to the work as close to the
welding area as possible. Work cables connected to
the building framework or other locations away from
the welding area increase the possibility of the
welding current passing through lifting chains, crane
cables or other alternate circuits. This can create fire
hazards or overheat lifting chains or cables until they
fail.
h. Also see Item 7c.
IMA 523D
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